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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Educational Value

While elements of Assassin's Creed III focus on American history and problem solving, we don't recommend it for learning because of its graphic violence.

Positive Messages

You play as an assassin in this video game, so it doesn't have a positive message for players.

Positive Role Models & Representations

As Connor, who is of both Native Indian and British descent, you can rewrite history during the American Revolutionary War in the 18th century. While players might be able to relate to Connor being torn between two conflicting parties, his job is to assassinate -- not a good role model.

Ease of Play

As with other Assassin's Creed titles, players play through a fairly thorough tutorial to become acquainted with all of Connor's skills, including stealthy movement, jumps, climbs, and of course, melee and ranged attacks. It's not too difficult to control, but experience with prior games will help considerably.

Violence

The game is quite violent as Connor must hide, stalk, and kill various targets -- using a number of weapons include tomahawks, pistols, muskets, bayonets, and swords. Players participate in sword fights resulting in slow-motion sequences and the impaling of opponents. Copious amounts of blood can be seen in the game, especially against white snow. Cut-scene sequences also show violent imagery including brutal assassinations by throat cutting and gun shots to the head.

Sex

There is some sexual dialogue, including references to the King's "whores" and one character's claim that another was having sex with his sister behind his back.

Language

The game has some strong profanity, including the words "f--k" and "s--t."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Assassin's Creed III is not only violent and bloody, but you also play as an assassin who must find and kill targets. This might be more disturbing to some parents than games where you shoot aliens to defend earth (Halo) or stave off a military attack (e.g. Call of Duty). The game also contains strong profanity and sexual references and innuendoes.

What's it about?

Ubisoft Montreal's ASSASSIN'S CREED III is an epic third-person action game that drops the player in the middle of the American Revolution during the late 18th century. You play as a warrior known as Connor, of both Native American and English heritage, who joins the Continental Army to fight for freedom against the British. By wielding a number of weapons –- such as tomahawks, guns, and bows –- you'll survey the landscape, hop between trees and building rooftops, and take down the Redcoats one by one. The game includes a retelling of some legendary events including the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Great Fire of New York, and epic naval battles off the East Coast.

Is it any good?

Bigger, better, and bolder than past award-winning games in this series, Assassin's Creed III lets gamers step into an era not seen often in video game lore, interact with famous figures from the period (including Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Paul Revere), and roam across locations ranging from colonial towns to open battlefields to the untamed wilderness of the New World. While violent, the stealthy action is intense and gratifying. Visually speaking, the game looks excellent and features smooth animation thanks to Ubisoft's next-generation Anvil Next game engine. Three years in development, Assassin's Creed III offers both a lengthy single-player campaign and various multiplayer modes. Overall, there's a lot of great gameplay here -- but take heed to the "Mature" warning for its graphic depiction of violence and blood, strong profanity, and occasional sexual references in the dialogue sequences.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about whether visiting different periods of time is much of the appeal with this game. Instead of the Renaissance in Europe, you're now on U.S. soil (the East Coast) during the late 1700s. Is it exciting to digitally recreate a historic era and change the outcome of famous events?

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